Not every sin willingly committed after justification is the sin against the Holy Ghost, and unpardonable. Wherefore, the grant of repentance is not to be denied to such as fall into sin after justification: after we have received the Holy Ghost, we may depart from grace given, and fall into sin, and, by the grace of God, rise again and amend our lives. And, therefore, they are to be condemned who say they can no more sin as long as they live here, or deny the place of forgiveness to such as truly repent.

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The intention of this article is to refute two theological errors that Christians have perennially struggled with. On the one hand, that no one who is genuinely in Christ ever sins again, and on the other hand, that those who sin after coming to Christ cannot be restored. Both errors are misunderstandings of the nature of the New Covenant and are addressed at length in Wesley’s “A Plain Account of Christian Perfection”. 

This Article asserts that when Christians who have been forgiven of their sins, justified, reconciled, and restored to a proper relationship with God, fall into sin once more, they will find that Jesus is faithful and just. He will guide them into repentance and forgiveness once again through the activity of the Holy Spirit in their lives. If they repent and seek forgiveness, continuing to pursue true holiness through grace by the power of the Holy Spirit at work in them, then they will be restored. 

Regarding the “Unpardonable Sin” as it relates to this matter. Jesus clearly defines the “Unpardonable Sin” as the rejection of the Holy Spirit’s work in bringing an awareness of Christ and the need for repentance. This hardening of our own hearts against God's invitation to receive mercy and grace is precisely what makes this sin unforgivable. If someone is seeking forgiveness for sin, then it is proof that they have not committed the unpardonable sin.

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Reflect on the following Biblical texts. What are your thoughts on the way they reveal this doctrine to us? Discuss your answers with your pastor/group leader.

Exodus 34:1-14 

Psalm 32:1-11 / Psalm 51:1-19 / Psalm 103:1-22 

Matthew 12:22-32 / Mark 3:22-30 

Romans 7:15-8:39 

Hebrews 4:1-16 

1 John 1:1-2:6 / 1 John 4:7-19

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Use the following questions to summarize what you have learned about this Article of Faith. Discuss your answers with your pastor/group leader.

Can our sin ever exhaust God’s grace? 

How can we be restored when we fall back into sin? 

How does the Holy Scripture affirm John Wesley’s teaching in his “Plain Account of Christian Perfection” that absolute sinlessness is impossible in this life?

How does this doctrine affect the practice of our faith? 

Notes: